Hi Barbies, hi Kens!

Podcast Barbie hosts this very special pink, plastic fantastic episode on the history and legacy of Barbie - the doll and the movie!

From her humble beginnings in the late 50s, through various controversies along the way, Barbie has been symbolic of girlhood, and of embracing the idea that girls can be whatever they want to be through play, not just as mothers with babydolls.

As Barbie is based on the body of an actual young woman, the idea of a live action Barbie movie made sense. The first attempt was in 1986, and throughout the years, various studios have tried to make a live action Barbie film, while in the background, Barbie has been a staple in animation.

It wasn't until real life Producer Barbie, Margot Robbie, contacted Mattel, with her ideas for a meta take on Barbie that Warner Bros started to take notice. Producer Barbie contacted Director Barbie, Greta Gerwig, and together they assembled the brightest and best Barbies in Hollywood to join them to celebrate Barbieland and all their achievements by having Barbie and Ken going to the real world and discovering that Barbieland's version of matriarchy isn't quite the experience of the real world.

The Kens, well, they're just Ken.

I would love to hear your thoughts on Barbie !

Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and was nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.

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ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Heather, Danny, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle, Aaron and brand-new patron Conner!

Red Sonja is based on Red Sonja, which is, in turn, partially based on Red Sonya. The Red Sonya interpretation is credited as such for this movie, however it's actually based on Red Sonja, not Red Sonya. And during production, it was briefly called Red Sonia.

Confused? I'm not surprised.

So many Sonjas/Sonyas/Sonias. And what about Conan, I mean, Kalidor?

Sonja/Sonya's evolution from Robert E. Howard's historical 16th-century warrior to Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith's iconic Marvel Comics fantasy heroine, each brought something unique to the Red Sonja legacy.

Kalidor (definitely not Conan!) is in an interesting case study of Hollywood rights navigation, where creative solutions led to a character that channels the spirit of Conan while remaining legally distinct.

Red Sonja's innovative approach to special effects, and the decision to shoot everything in-camera created a distinctive visual style that prioritized practical filmmaking techniques over post-production polish.

While it has its flaws, Red Sonja represents an ambitious chapter in fantasy filmmaking that pushed boundaries and took creative risks, offering valuable insights into the evolution of the sword-and-sorcery genre and Hollywood's ongoing relationship with strong female protagonists.

I would love to hear your thoughts on Red Sonja (1985) !

Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and was nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
• Instagram @verbaldiorama
• Facebook @verbaldiorama
• Letterboxd @verbaldiorama
• Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com
• Website verbaldiorama.com

SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

Join the Patreon | Send a Tip

ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Heather, Danny, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle and Aaron.

Natasha Romanoff. Daughter. Sister. Avenger.

Natasha made her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Iron Man 2 as a mysterious S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, quickly becoming a core member of the Avengers despite lacking superpowers. The character evolved from a supporting femme fatale into one of the MCU's most complex heroes; a former Russian child assassin grappling with her dark past while seeking redemption through heroic acts, and finally finding a family. Her journey culminated in the ultimate sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame, giving her life to obtain the Soul Stone and save the universe.

Marvel had been talking about a solo Black Widow film for years since her 2010 debut, but it had never come to pass. It's not the first time a solo film had been talked about for Natasha Romanoff. Lions Gate held the rights to the character in the early 2000s, but that movie idea was scuppered due to the failure of other female-led action movies.

Black Widow's solo film finally arrived in 2021, making it an eleven-year wait from her MCU introduction. The delay was attributed to Marvel's former leadership's reluctance to greenlight female-led superhero films, concerns about their commercial viability, as well as the planned Infinity Saga narrative needing to focus on introducing other characters, like Black Panther and Captain Marvel.

Black Widow would give fans a much-needed backstory for Natasha, as well as introduce her sister, Yelena. The importance of both characters extends beyond individual heroism to representation. Natasha proved female characters could carry major action sequences and emotional weight in the MCU, while Yelena's introduction ensures the Black Widow legacy continues, representing a new generation of complex female heroes who can anchor future MCU stories.

I would love to hear your thoughts on Black Widow (2021) !

Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and was nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
• Instagram @verbaldiorama
• Facebook @verbaldiorama
• Letterboxd @verbaldiorama
• Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com
• Website verbaldiorama.com

SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

Join the Patreon | Send a Tip

ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Heather, Danny, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle and Aaron.

James Gunn's Superman (2025) is in cinemas right now, and is really good! It has a wonderful central performance by David Corenswet, and is as colourful as it is hopeful, and we need that right now. As I'm off this week, it felt like a good time to revisit the late Christopher Reeve's iconic performances in Superman II, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, Superman III & Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.

Technically the first ever quadruple-bill episode (if you also count the Richard Donner cut of Superman II, which we do), as voted for by Patrons of this podcast for, on the history and legacy of Superman II, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, Superman III & Superman IV: The Quest for Peace ! The sequels to the previous episode on Superman

SUPERMAN II was inevitable after Richard Donner completed 75% of the movie, filmed at the same time as Superman (1978). His work on the sequel was halted during Superman's production, but as Superman flew into the box office and became a critical and financial success, the sequel was fired up again... and Donner himself was unceremoniously fired from the movie by the Salkinds, and replaced with Richard Lester; a move that didn't go down well with the cast and crew...

SUPERMAN II: THE RICHARD DONNER CUT came about due to the open secret of Richard Donner's material existing in a vault somewhere. After a few legal issues, notably with the estate of Marlon Brando for the production of Superman Returns, a new 2001 DVD version of Superman also led to the discovery of 6 tonnes of unused, previously lost material shot by Richard Donner for Superman II. In an unprecedented (at the time) fan campaign to see Donner's cut, it was finally released to acclaim in 2006...

SUPERMAN III is less of a Superman movie, and more of a comedy vehicle for the late, great Richard Pryor, but that didn't mean it was easy to get made. A lot of people were still annoyed at the Salkinds for their treatment of Richard Donner, including Christopher Reeve himself. Reeve almost didn't return as the iconic character, but changed his mind and relished playing Superman vs Superman (which was also almost the title of the movie), but in retrospect it would be a movie he wouldn't have too much fun with, despite the slapstick tone...

SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE would only be made after the Salkinds sold the rights to The Cannon Group; a production company known for making low quality movies en masse to make as much profit as possible. Cannon's plan though was big franchises: they bought Superman with the intent of spending $36 million on Superman IV. They were also making Masters of the Universe, the first big screen adventure for He-Man. But Masters of the Universe's financial woes would drastically affect Superman IV, with disastrous consequences for the Superman franchise, and leading to a 19-year wait for Superman to return...

This episode was originally released on 16th November 2023

Mentioned in this episode:

From the Archive

There's no new episode this week, so I thought you might be interested in revisiting this slightly older, but no less brilliant episode. Just bear in mind, this episode is several years old, it may not sound quite as polished as newer episodes, and new information may have come to light in recent years with regards to the making of this movie (please see above for the original date of release)

James Gunn's Superman (2025) is in cinemas right now, and is really good! It has a wonderful central performance by David Corenswet, and is as colourful as it is hopeful, and we need that right now. As I'm off this week, it felt like a good time to revisit the late Christopher Reeve's iconic performance in Superman (1978).

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Verbal Diorama's Heroes Through the Decades miniseries, continuing into the 1970s!

Whether you know him as Clark Kent, Kal-El, the Man of Steel, the Man of Tomorrow, or just as Superman, that famous tights-and-cape combo emblazoned with the S on his chest is a symbol of a lot of things:

Hope, courage, freedom, love... truth, justice and the American way, and a movie with a rich history in comic books, that was made in part because of Zorro, and in another due to 1966's Batman.

The late Christopher Reeve is perfectly cast as both Clark Kent and Superman, in a landmark superhero film by the late Richard Donner. Donner's personality clashes with father-and-son producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind led to him being fired from Superman II, despite him completing reportedly 75% of the sequel....

This episode was originally released on 5th May 2022

Mentioned in this episode:

From the Archive

There's no new episode this week, so I thought you might be interested in revisiting this slightly older, but no less brilliant episode. Just bear in mind, this episode is several years old, it may not sound quite as polished as newer episodes, and new information may have come to light in recent years with regards to the making of this movie (please see above for the original date of release)

From batnips to ice-themed villains and the not-so-subtle campiness, Joel Schumacher's neon-soaked superhero spectacle dives deep into the wacky world of Gotham City’s dynamic duo as they face off against Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy.

Batman & Robin stands as one of cinema's most notorious cautionary tales about franchise excess. What began as Warner Bros' attempt to create the ultimate summer blockbuster became a $125 million lesson in how beloved characters can be transformed into walking toy advertisements. From George Clooney's regretful reflections on his rubber nipples to Arnold Schwarzenegger's $25 million payday for delivering ice puns, this production reads like a masterclass in studio interference gone wrong.

Schumacher's vision clashed with studio demands for maximum merchandising, costume designers prioritized sculpted anatomy over actor comfort, and how plot came a distinct second to ensuring characters and vehicles were as toyetic as possible.

While Batman & Robin effectively killed the franchise for nearly a decade, its spectacular failure directly influenced Christopher Nolan's grounded Dark Knight trilogy and fundamentally changed how studios approach superhero properties. What an incredible legacy for one movie to have!

I would love to hear your thoughts on Batman & Robin !

Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and was nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
• Instagram @verbaldiorama
• Facebook @verbaldiorama
• Letterboxd @verbaldiorama
• Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com
• Website verbaldiorama.com

SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

Join the Patreon | Send a Tip

ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Heather, Danny, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle and Aaron.

When we think of movies with Hollywood defining legacies, Mr. & Mrs. Smith wouldn't be the first that springs to mind.

A fun, comedic mid-2000s action flick, capitalising on the chemistry of its two stunningly beautiful leads; it became the movie that defined a generation of celebrity culture, and sold hundreds of thousands of gossip magazines.

But it all could have been very different, had it not been for The Stepford Wives.

The film's inception, a chaotic filming schedule that resulted in significant budget overruns, and a constantly changing script pale in comparison to the media circus that followed Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, affectionately given the portmanteau 'Brangelina', and how their relationship flourished as they played married assassins; oblivious to each other's secret lives until they’re pitted against one another to finish their respective jobs. Not to mention his previous marriage failing at about the same time they were filming this movie - surely it's all a coincidence?

Their journey from co-stars to Hollywood power couple to eventually married and sharing six children would not lead to their happily ever after, unlike John and Jane Smith.

I would love to hear your thoughts on Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) !

Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and was nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
• Instagram @verbaldiorama
• Facebook @verbaldiorama
• Letterboxd @verbaldiorama
• Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com
• Website verbaldiorama.com

SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

Join the Patreon | Send a Tip

ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Heather, Danny, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle and Aaron.

What happens when Hollywood egos, sabotage campaigns, and directorial chaos collide in the Arizona desert? Tombstone is a film that survived one of the most tumultuous productions in Western movie history to become a beloved cult classic.

You think the gunfight at the O.K. Corral was dramatic? That's nothing compared to Kevin Costner's alleged studio sabotage campaign, the director who got fired just one month into filming, and how Kurt Russell allegedly secretly took over directing duties while refusing to put his name on the film.

A bitter rivalry with Costner's competing Wyatt Earp nearly killed Tombstone before it reached cinemas, and Val Kilmer's career-defining performance as Doc Holliday only really happened because of studio interference, which came from Costner's attempt to derail the production.

From the scorching Arizona heat, to the replacement director brought in with just three days of preparation; a director who made the cinematographer quit three times, as well as various other crew members, Tombstone is a masterclass in how great movies can emerge from absolute production disasters.

It's a tale of Hollywood hardball, Western justice, and that sometimes your worst enemy can accidentally become your greatest asset.

I would love to hear your thoughts on Tombstone (1993) !

Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and was nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
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• Facebook @verbaldiorama
• Letterboxd @verbaldiorama
• Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com
• Website verbaldiorama.com

SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

Join the Patreon | Send a Tip

ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Heather, Danny, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle and Aaron.

Cutthroat Island has quite the reputation. It's known as the infamous pirate flick that sank a studio, as well as the entire pirate genre, but that's not completely true.

In many ways, Cutthroat Island might just be more of a misunderstood gem, that happens to have been created when Carolco Pictures was at the very end of its life - mired in debt, and struggling to stay afloat. Cutthroat Island was its last chance. Cutthroat Island was never the reason Carolco fell into bankruptcy, but it didn't exactly help matters either.

It is true that the movie faced a storm of production woes, casting drama, and a box office disaster that left it walking the plank. Female-led action movies like Cutthroat Island often face harsher scrutiny than their male counterparts. But Cutthroat Island also deserves a second look, showcasing epic stunts, lush visuals, huge pyrotechnics, and a swashbuckling adventure that’s way more fun than its critics would have you believe.

It's time to navigate the choppy waters of pirate cinema, and explore why it’s high time we give this movie more love! Savvy?

I would love to hear your thoughts on Cutthroat Island !

Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and was nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
• Instagram @verbaldiorama
• Facebook @verbaldiorama
• Letterboxd @verbaldiorama
• Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com
• Website verbaldiorama.com

SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

Join the Patreon | Send a Tip

ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Heather, Danny, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle and Aaron.

In 1999, Stan Winston Studios and Digital Domain joined forces to create one of cinema's most convincing monsters - the massive crocodile from "Lake Placid." Winston's team, fresh off "Jurassic Park," built a groundbreaking 30-foot animatronic that could actually function underwater using waterproofed hydraulics and urethane skin - a technical marvel that had previously destroyed lesser movie creatures. With snapping jaws, moving eyes, and a thrashing tail, this mechanical beast terrorized actors in the frigid lakes of British Columbia while creating genuine fear on set.

Digital Domain seamlessly handled what the animatronic couldn't, crafting stunning CGI sequences of the crocodile diving and surfacing with explosive water effects. This hybrid approach - blending Winston's tactile craftsmanship with cutting-edge computer graphics - produced just under four minutes of unforgettable screen time.

Weather delays, waterproofing challenges, and the genius of two legendary effects houses brought Lake Placid to life, but in a crowded summer of 1999, this croc would struggle to dominate the box office, instead becoming a cult classic creature feature.

I would love to hear your thoughts on Lake Placid !

Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and was nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.

CONTACT....

• Twitter @verbaldiorama
• Instagram @verbaldiorama
• Facebook @verbaldiorama
• Letterboxd @verbaldiorama
• Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com
• Website verbaldiorama.com

SUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....

Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review

Join the Patreon | Send a Tip

ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMA

Verbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.

Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio

Patrons: Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat, Andy, Mike, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian, Lisa, Sam, Jack, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Heather, Danny, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Philip K, Adam, Elaine, Kyle and Aaron.